Can anyone tell me why my cat, about 10 years old, has not been covering his poop in his litter box for a while now? Have not changed litter brands and do scoop, most of the time. But I just changed the litter yesterday and he came in a while ago and pooped(REAL STINKY TOO!) but did not cover it up.

Do you have several cats or is he an only cat? Sometimes, the 'alpha' cat in a multi-cat household will not cover up their poop as a way of stating 'this is my territory' to other cats in the vicinity. Or, he may feel that the box is too small for him to turn around in and cover it up properly so rather than risk stepping in it, he doesn't bother. Or , he feels unsafe in the box - it might be in a noisy location or high traffic area or another cat constantly ambushes him coming out of the box so he tries to spend a minimum amount of time there doing only what is absolutely necessary and leaving quickly. Just some possibilities.

He's the only cat in the house. It's the same size litter box he's used before. And the box is where it has always been. he just started this about 4 or 5 months ago. As far as I can remember , there have been no changes in size, brand, location, etc.

He's the only cat in the house. It's the same size litter box he's used before. And the box is where it has always been. he just started this about 4 or 5 months ago. As far as I can remember , there have been no changes in size, brand, location, etc.

Two other suggestions come to mind, then. One - is it possible that he is feeling stiff or getting a touch of arthritis and finds it difficult to turn around in a small area like a litter box? Does he appear less agile or flexible? Does he hesitate jumping up and down from things, or give any other type of appearance that his age (not that he is old, but he is approaching the age when things like arthritis might start) is beginning to catch up with him?

Is he overweight? Again, it might be difficult for him if he has a little bit too much weight on him to do the manouevering necessary to cover his poop.

You might try adding a second litter box for him and see how he approaches the new box. It may just be that as an only cat he knows you are going to clean out the box and so he has no need to cover it up.

Has his diet changed? Is the 'stinkiness' something new or is this something that has been constant? It may be that as he gets older his dietary needs are also changing and he needs a food aimed at senior cats that is easier on his digestion.

Two other suggestions come to mind, then. One - is it possible that he is feeling stiff or getting a touch of arthritis and finds it difficult to turn around in a small area like a litter box? Does he appear less agile or flexible? Does he hesitate jumping up and down from things, or give any other type of appearance that his age (not that he is old, but he is approaching the age when things like arthritis might start) is beginning to catch up with him?

Is he overweight? Again, it might be difficult for him if he has a little bit too much weight on him to do the manouevering necessary to cover his poop.

You might try adding a second litter box for him and see how he approaches the new box. It may just be that as an only cat he knows you are going to clean out the box and so he has no need to cover it up.

Has his diet changed? Is the 'stinkiness' something new or is this something that has been constant? It may be that as he gets older his dietary needs are also changing and he needs a food aimed at senior cats that is easier on his digestion.

Kathryn

As best I can tell he is neither overweight or suffering arthritis since he still jumps in the window and on the couch ok. I have not changed his diet either, except for canned. He stopped eating it a while back so I stopped putting it out for him. He is eating dry all of the time now. But the stinkiness has always been!!!! Not every poop but maybe every third or fourth one. This week I tried moving the litter box to a quieter place(spare bedroom where he sleeps when it is storming). He liked it so much(NOT!!) that he started pooping in the bathtub now. So I have moved it back to where it was all along.
I also read in other posts where someone's cat was "accidentally" pooping little spots here/there. He did this a time or two. Usually in the window where he sleeps sometimes and then in a dining room chair he also sleeps in. It's like a child that wets the bed! Seems like each time it was pretty runny and loose and very smelly!!!!
He is neither neutered or declawed so he goes outside quiet a bit during good weather. He went out a while back and would not come back in for about 2 weeks. When he did he started wanting out after eating. So I thought maybe he was going to start to "go" outside now. But, no, he will immediately come right back in and go to the litter box later on.

Not being neutered may have something to do with it, especially since he goes outside. He may have another male cat outside who has invaded his outside territory, so he is compensating by making sure he is leaving his territorial scent around the home by not burying his feces. He doesn't feel threatened enough to spray inside - which is very good - but perhaps this is his way of reasserting "his territory".

The two times you mention when he had loose stinky feces where he was sleeping does sound more like a health issue. Cats are very fastidious about NOT using their sleeping or eating areas for a toilet. Did you take him to the vet those times? It could be that he has picked up some sort of parasite outside and would benefit from being wormed - or else he got into something that disagreed with his digestive system outside and had the loose bowel movements. You could try adding acidophilus to his diet. Since he doesn't eat canned food, you could take an acidophilus capsule and break it open on a dish for him to 'lick' up - mine do that - or you could offer him some plain yogurt. The acidophilus will help to restore the 'good' bacteria in his digestive tract that help him digest his food properly.

I would suggest taking a fecal sample to the vet to see if he does have worms. You may also try adding a second litter box rather than just relocating the first one to a new spot and see if that helps as well.